It was a sunny, but chilly day in the mountains, when Will woke up. Matt was still sleeping, so she crawled out of bed and decided to enjoy the early morning air. The young redhead threw a big scarf over her cute PJs and quietly got out the cabin, where she positioned herself on the bench out on the porch, admiring the nature which surrounded her. The little mountain village where she and Matt had arrived two days ago, was a few hours away from Heatherfield and a true getaway. After coming to her the night of the Festival, when she was so depressed, he immediately knew what was happening and only a few days later he had brought her here. Will smiled to herself, thinking how lucky she was with him. Just then she felt a hand on herself.

"Matt! You're up early."

He smiled at her and ran a hand through his messy black hair.

"I heard you getting out of bed. But look what I found."- and he handed her her mobile phone. Will suddenly felt uneasy. Hell no, how could she forget about her phone under the bed for so much time. It must have slipped away the previous morning. God knew how many missed calls, she had. After all, she hadn't told anyone about her travel.

"Off I'm so stupid."- Will murmured and unlocked her phone with a sinking heart. As expected she found out she had 15 missed calls from Susan , 9 from Taranee and 2 from both Irma and Hay Lin.

Great, Will thought angry with herself. As if all that wasn't enough, but she had completely shut off her telepathic channels as well. What if there had been some sort of an emergency? Her friends couldn't even transform without her. Will realized that her desire to get away from everything was way too selfish and proceeded to calling Susan first. She already knew what was waiting for her, when her mother picked up:

"Oh, Madame are we good? You finally decided you could answer your phone? Thank you, you're so generous!"-Susan sounded just like Cornelia, as she attacked her daughter with a bitter tone.

"Mom. I'm sorry."- she sighed. "I had forgotten all about my phone when..."

"You're sorry?"- Susan almost screamed from the other line. "What does a sorry count for in this case, Will. And what do you mean you forgot about your phone, weren't you supposed to take care of your brother?"

"I was, but ..."

"Do you have any idea, what it was like to come back and find our apartment empty, with no Will or William in sight?"- Susan continued. "You didn't pick up your phone, we waited an hour, two, three, nothing! Nothing! And I had told you very clearly the date of our return! How can you be so irresponsible?!"

Wow, it was almost like she had rehearsed this speech, the redhead thought grimly.

"Then what do you think happens? We meet Joan , thank God, she let us know that our child, who you were supposed to look after, has spent the last two days with Mrs. Lin! Will, how can you do this to her? She is an old lady and you pass your responsibilities to her, just like that! Was it so hard for you to be a sister for a few days!?"

Just then Matt pulled the phone from his defenseless girlfriend's hands and interjected:

"Susan, pardon me, but this is all my fault. I insisted on taking your daughter out of town the other day, and when Mrs. Lin suggested to take care of William and supported my idea, I didn't think twice. Forgive me and don't be too hard on Will, because of that."

Will watched in amazement, as Matt handled the situation like a pro. She adored him even more in that moment. Ever her mother's voice softened from the other line:

"Oh, Matt. Well if it is so, then OK. I will forget about this. Are you two out of town? OK, then...Just please next time call me before doing so, if William is left to Will again."

Matt smiled:

"You have my word."

A few minutes later their conversation was over on good terms, Will snuggled in her boyfriend.

"You didn't have to cover for me, you know." - she said jokingly. "I was handling her just fine."

"Yeah, right."- Matt laughed at her. "I am always happy to be the little pillar of balance between you and Susan momma."

Will laughed in her turn and kissed him. They stayed in each other's arms for a few more minutes, before Will decided to get in touch with her friends too. Irma and Hay Lin were both busy, and didn't seem to remember what had they called Will for, to her surprise. Irma wished her a rocking time with Matt, and excused herself, as she was busy in the radio. Hay Lin also hummed a few kittenish words before going to her fashion design lecture. Will was left a little weirded out by that, but she quickly forgot about it. However, not being able to contact Taranee, did make her worried. And since her friend wasn't picking up her phone, nor was she available for telepathic chat, Will didn't have many other options. Irma and Hay Lin were busy, and this meant only one thing. Will took a deep breath. She had to call Cornelia...

"Hi, Will...yeah it's Caleb."- she heard his hunky voice answering Cornelia's phone number. Oh, this meant she still didn't want to talk to her, but she had Caleb pick up, instead of ignoring her. Interesting, Will thought gloomily. Honestly she had hoped that they would be on good terms again, by now. "Yeah...we're here at Taranee's place."- Caleb reported, glancing at Cornelia, who stood by the bed. She just crossed her arms and raised her chin.

"Oh, my God is she alright?"- Will exclaimed with concern. "I knew something was off."

"Her mother says she has a bad headache since yesterday, and she's resting right now. Probably nothing serious."- Caleb replied.

"Ask her where the hell she is at."-Cornelia hissed, making him roll his eyes. "Isn't she supposed to be Taranee's best friend?"

"K, Will ,we will talk again later. When Taranee wakes up, I'm going to ask her to call you back."

"Thanks, Caleb."

"Bye"

"Bye..."

Cornelia made a face and sat on Taranee's bed touching her forehead. Her temperature still appeared to be high.

"I think that Theresa should call a doctor."- she said.

"She said, she would if Taranee remained like this by evening."- Caleb shrugged. "She has probably caught a nasty virus or something, and you should stand back. I want my baby momma to be healthy."- he placed his hands on her shoulders, protectively, making her smile.

"And what I want, is to know where are the other two."- she quickly got her strict tone back and frowned. "They are really good at keeping me out of things, but when one of them is sick only I seem to care enough to be present. Two faced much."

"Cornelia, you're dragging this pointlessly."- the man told her. "Earth girls! You always fight for something and then you're best friends again in no time. Why do you think this time it's another case."

"That is right, we do fight, mostly when they mistreat me. But this time they've crossed the line! Coming to my house, with "big news" and changing their mind in the last moment. Taranee's idea by the way."- and the blond glared at her sleeping friend. " I don't know what they think of themselves, but this..."

"I know, I know, you told me like ten times already."- the rebel leader interrupted her with a sly glance.

Cornelia gave him a little judgy face, but when he gently pulled her in a hug, she melted in his arms.

"Promise that you will never let go of me."-she whispered, as she absorbed his scent. She felt safer there, locked in an embrace, forgetting about the rest of the world.

Caleb stretched his neck to look at her. She had forgotten all about her militancy, and was now full of dreamy tenderness. He kissed the top of her head.

"I promise,my love."

Meanwhile...

"I don't know how she did it, nor exactly why. But she erased their memory, and caused Taranee great pain, she explained to me that once it fades away she is most likely to forget everything...but currently she is a prisoner of her own mind, because of Halinor's curse." - Julian was walking nervously around Heatherfield, with a pair of sunglasses and a black mackintosh. After much practice, he was successfully using a smartphone, as he walked. "She was scared that someone could find out that she could have possibly allowed her chain to be broken. But the new fire girl is suffering because of that. If we could help her, it would be good."

"That's quite interesting. Halinor is helping out, unwillingly."- Nerissa replied from the other side of the line. "Her emotional imbalance is so strong now,that she fails to distinguish the good from the evil, as well as, the truth from the lie. Not that we needed this, but I got to admit, it worked in our favor. The guardians would have ruined everything. Don't worry about Taranee, by the way. I will do everything in my power to lift the curse."

"I guess so. And that would be great."-Julian sighed. "I took Halinor back to Fadden Hills this morning, I hope not to hear from her again any time soon."

Nerissa chuckled at that:

"If she had the prudence to go back to her precious Kandrakar, her psychosis would have given her a break by now. But no, she must be with Kadma. Such fools! Anyway, tell me how are you. How is Caleb."

"We are good, I'd say very good. Caleb is happy, he spends time with Cornelia. Myself, I thought I would miss Meridian more, but I can tell you I am adjusting to life on Earth very fast. "

"Really."- she purred. "Are you accommodating to life without me around your neck so fast?"

Julian smirked, as he took a turn on a smaller street, which would take him faster to the Silver Dragon.

"Not really, but now I am getting ready for life with you in my arms. Did you get everything pulled tight already?"

"Ha-ha, do not tease me, Julian."- she pretended she was cross. "Only I can tease you."

"Ooh what is that supposed to mean?"- he asked innocently, but with a playful tinge in his voice.

Even over the phone, their chemistry was strong. They spoke for a few more minutes. Nerissa was going to arrive back at Heatherfield the upcoming Friday. "Too much time"- Julian growled, but she managed to brush it off with a chuckle.

"Anyhow, when you get back we will need to start with our means I have to keep the guardians in the dark for another week, I hope I will be able to..."

"Yes."- Nerissa agreed. "That might not be as easy, as we want. Listen, get that boy who did the audio alteration to shut up. And beware of Yanny. I just know she will not remain passive for much longer."

"I thought so too."- the man admitted. "Talking about Martin, I already spoke to him this morning. He was pretty worried about Irma's reaction and not being able to keep my secret, but he was also hopeful, as his girlfriend, I mean Irma, behaved as if she didn't even remember all the quote on quote: "hullabaloo from yesterday". It appears that she hasn't revealed her true identity and powers to him. So that was lucky for us."

"I see."- Nerissa said in a pensive voice. "Fine, forget them. Make sure you are fully rested until next week, because when I come. There will be no eye-shut time."

Later at the Silver Dragon...

Yan Lin brought yet another dish to Cornelia's table. She made a sign to Caleb, who was serving the other customers, to come and sit with them.

"You can take a break now. Come and sit with us."- she told him.

"In a minute!"

Meanwhile Julian walked in the Silver Dragon and headed for their table. He patted his son on the back, as he walked past him.

"It's OK, do your job."

Julian sat on the chair, facing Cornelia who greeted him in a low voice, as if she was mentally somewhere else.

"What's wrong Cornelia, why are you down in the dumps?"

"It's nothing, I guess."- the blond replied, poking her food with the fork. "It's just not my day, papa."

"Are you still upset because of your parents."- Julian suggested. "Sincerely speaking, I understand them. With time everything will fall into it's place, believe me."

Cornelia sighed and glanced up at Caleb's father. She was really grateful to have the two of them in her life,as she had never imagined she would settle down so easily with her future husband's family. While growing up, she had always believed that one day she would have Elizabeth's relationship with her in laws- cold and hostile from the many differences that both sides had. But Julian, she really felt like her own father. The guy was a gem, no wonder Caleb was such a fine man with a father like him.

"Papa, it's not just my parents..."- she trailed and looked him in the eyes. "I was thinking about something lately, and I know it might sound out of nowhere at this point...but I seriously consider moving to Meridian once I give birth here."

"What?"-Julian exclaimed. "Cornelia why this all of a sudden?"

"All my life, I've been selfish, and I have been told I am."- the young woman confessed, eyeing the floor. "I should have known better when I convinced Caleb to live here, ten years ago...maybe I was wrong, I mean I wanted to live here because of all my friends and stuff, but by the looks of it now that ship is about to sail away, if not sink...Besides with my college "success" I don't see high chances of me having an awesome career here either...therefore Meridian doesn't sound so bad to me anymore. I know how much you and Caleb love it there, and I am ready to move with you for everyone's good sake if needed. I want my child to know its father's land."

"Dear Cornelia, you are such a sweet girl."- Julian put his hand on hers, as she finished her emotional confession with tears forming in her eyes. "And I am very pleased that my son chose you for his wife. But I need to tell that me and Caleb are very well adapted to Earth by now and it is not a problem for us to live here. This is just what I was telling his mo..."- he bit his tongue on time, and coughed that part away: "...his many friends. Pardon me, my throat is dry since morning...What is more, you can be sure that my grandchild will get to know both worlds, both Earth and Meridian. That is not going to be a problem. Relax dear, everything is and will be alright."

Cornelia smiled at the older man and placed her second hand on his:

"Thanks papa."-she said gratefully. Julian smiled back and winked at her, in a friendly manner.

"Julian is right, Cornelia."- Yan Lin interjected, as she finally sat on their table. "You are not going to go anywhere, and do not let me hear you speaking of your friendship with my granddaughter, Taranee, Will and Irma being a sinking ship again!"

Cornelia felt a wave of anger but it faded away,as the old lady continued:

"You will not disband like me and my friends, hear me out Cornelia! You are smarter than this, and as for your results in college, you will sit on that pretty little ass of yours and will study harder once the baby is born!Got it?"

"Fine."- Cornelia grunted. "Whatever."

Julian patted her hand, and looked up at Yan Lin giving her an amused look, she however answered with a rather strange one. Julian tightened, as he remembered Nerissa's warning. Yes, Yan Lin was definitely not someone to underestimate. He had to keep his eyes and ears open with her around, otherwise something unplanned could happen. And unplanned was not an option right now.

"...It would be easier for me not to feel like that, if your granddaughter and the others didn't keep me out of things, you know."

Yan Lin blinked at her, confusedly:

"What now?Is this about Susan's assault towards Will again?"-she asked, tedious. "I will talk to this woman, she is so fractious..."

"I don't know what it is about."-Cornelia snapped and crossed her arms on her chest. "Before I got to know, Taranee decided I was not worthy of being told, and Hay Lin and Irma followed her out, leaving me like a fool."

This has to be when Halinor stepped in, Julian realized. Good God, so their secret had been on the brink...

"We shall just ask Taranee."- Yan Lin decided. "And you will see it was probably just something stupid."

"Well, if she wakes up, why not! Ask her yourself, I'm sure she would much rather tell you than me. She came, calling me a dumb blonde, and she insisted Will's stupid bad feeling was right, and I was wrong, blah-blah..."

"Wait a minute."-the former air guardian interrupted her. "What bad feeling?"

Cornelia was silent for a few seconds. She looked at Julian who was listening to every word she was saying. What the hell was she thinking? She couldn't just speak about Will's nasty lies in front of him, he would be terribly pained. "No first my parents were so trashy to him, now me. Not a chance for that to happen. I will not follow their example, for sure!"

"I have no idea, and I don't care."- she raised her chin up. "Will is being retarded ever since her mother compared her to me, since then she has been trying to prove her wrong with all sorts of shit. Ask her, not me."

"Ok, ok, cool down."- the old woman said and almost forcefully put a spoon full of food in her mouth. "Think of the little life growing inside you and forget all your bothers...There we go. Have some more of this, I made it for you!"

Cornelia tried to protest, but Yan Lin continued to feed her with a sweet smile. Inside however, she was not so calm at all. Yan Lin thought about the latest news she had received in the last 24 hours, as she stood, giving Cornelia her food. Sure, she hadn't found anything remarkable in the Crossnic house, but she still thought about it, and Elida's suggestion. Why were there lights, if no one was inside? Then there was this sudden bad feeling which Will had, could the two be connected in some way? Yan Lin had to find out and make sure that no harm would be done to her girls or anyone else for this matter. Not again.

Julian observed everything carefully. From now on it was a matter of supremacy. Either he would help Nerissa win their son's love back, or he was going to fail. But if that happened, he knew he would never be able to forgive himself. Not an option, he reminded himself and swallowed his pride and honesty. If he had to resort to such tricks in the name of his family, he would do it without hesitation. The rebel made sure that no one was looking, and opened the same phial he had used the last time, secretly adding a few drops of it's content to Yan Lin's drink...